Game day: UNLV now 4-1 in MWC after dropping New Mexico

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Published Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 | 2 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 | 6:16 p.m.

There's getting back on track, and then there's what UNLV just did to New Mexico.

The Scarlet and Gray rebounded from last week's heartbreaking loss at Fresno State by demolishing the Lobos in Albuquerque, 56-14.

UNLV jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter and never looked back. Ricky White racked up 165 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and Jayden Maiava threw for 247 yards and three scores as UNLV tallied touchdowns on eight of its first eight offensive possessions.

The defense got into the action in the second quarter when Jalen Dixon stripped a New Mexico running back, allowing Jett Elad to scoop up the fumble and return it 62 yards, finally being caught inside the UNM 10-yard line to set up another UNLV touchdown.

Jacob De Jesus was the star on special teams, returning two punts for 112 yards.

The win improves UNLV to 4-1 in Mountain West play, keeping them tied for second place with the winner of tonight's matchup between Boise State and Fresno State (both 3-1). 

UNLV extends lead to 49-7 over New Mexico

UNLV tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, and with 15 minutes remaining the visitors have a 49-7 lead.

It's been a long day for New Mexico, especially when Jayden Maiava has targeted Ricky White. The junior receiver has constantly gotten behind the defense, and he did it again on a 58-yard touchdown reception midway through the third quarter.

White now has eight catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Maiava has completed 13-of-18 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

UNLV is going to improve to 7-2 on the season as soon as the clock runs out in Albuquerque.

UNLV rolling at New Mexico, up 35-7 at half

The Scarlet and Gray came to play today.

UNLV's first five drives went for touchdowns, resulting in a commanding 35-7 halftime lead at New Mexico.

It hasn't just been the offense, as the defense and special teams have contributed greatly to the blowout. Defensive lineman Jalen Dixon forced a fumble that Jett Elad returned 62 yards, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run by Donavyn Lester that made it 28-7. The UNLV defense forced a punt on UNM's ensuing possession, and Jacob De Jesus snapped off his second long return of the day, running it back 53 yards to put the Scarlet and Gray in the red zone. Courtney Reese capped that drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Ricky White has been a monster in the deep passing game, pulling down three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while four different running backs have scored on the ground.

It's exactly what Barry Odom wanted to see after last week's haphazard showing at Fresno State.

Oh, and UNLV will receive the kick to begin the second half. 

Hot offense has UNLV up 21-7 at New Mexico

UNLV has scored on all three of its possessions, and midway through the second quarter Barry Odom's squad has a 21-7 lead at New Mexico.

It looked like UNLV would be making short work of the Lobos until the home team finally put together a drive, going 75 yards in 6:29 to trim an early 14-0 deficit in half (Andrew Henry did the honors with a 5-yard touchdown run).

That bought New Mexico a little time, but UNLV answered right back with a scoring drive of its own. The key play was a 42-yard pass from Jayden Maiava to Rickey White, with White elevating above his defender to pull in a spectacular catch. That set up the Scarlet and Gray inside the 10, and Vincent Davis scored a 5-yard touchdown two plays later to make it 21-7.

White is having a very productive afternoon, with two catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Davis has five carries for 19 yards and two TDs.

UNLV jumps out to 14-0 lead at New Mexico

UNLV added another quick touchdown, thanks in part to an unforced error by their hosts, and they've got a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

New Mexico's second drive went nowhere and the punt team came on, but the snap was botched and UNLV linebacker Fred Thomkins recovered at the 32-yard line. Five plays later, Jayden Maiava pitched to Vincent Davis on an option play and Davis walked in untouched for a 5-yard score.

That's how UNLV has come to build a two-touchdown lead while running just six offensive plays to this point.

The Lobos have had more success on their third drive, moving inside the 10. They'll have a 1st-and-goal from the 7-yard line when play resumes in the second quarter.

Maiava to White touchdown gives UNLV 7-0 lead at New Mexico

If UNLV is feeling any lingering effects from last week's tough loss at Fresno State, they're not showing it.

Less than three minutes in, UNLV already has a 7-0 lead here in Albuquerque after Jayden Maiava hit Ricky White for a 30-yard touchdown on the first offensive snap.

The game started with the Scarlet and Gray defense forcing a quick punt. Jacob De Jesus returned the kick 59 yards to give UNLV great field position, and they got aggressive on the first call, running White deep across the field on a play-action route. Maiava had all day to throw, and White was wide open for the long TD grab.

A week after sloppy play gave away a winnable game, UNLV certainly looks very sharp today.

UNLV football looks to stay in MWC race at New Mexico

UNLV will attempt to get back on the winning track on Saturday, when Barry Odom takes his 6-2 squad to New Mexico in a battle that has Mountain West title implications for the Scarlet and Gray.

Three keys to watch as UNLV tries to stay in the hunt:

Runing game still on track

UNLV has lost two games this season, and in both contests the offense struggled to run the ball.

The Scarlet and Gray averaged just 2.9 yards on 74 attempts against Michigan and Fresno State, while in their six wins they ran 269 times at a clip of 5.2 yards per carry. Despite the reduced production against Fresno State, Odom found a silver lining in the way they stuck with the game plan and found some traction in the fourth quarter.

“It was tough early,” he said. “They’re really good up front, in my opinion. We’ve got a good offensive line, so there were some battles there. We won some, they won some but as the game went, we were able to get some more things going.”

UNLV should have more success this week against a New Mexico front that allows 5.4 yards per carry, which is the eighth-worst mark in the entire country.

Special edge

Special teams has been a distinct advantage for UNLV this season, creating favorable field position and even producing big plays in the return game. But punt returner Jacob De Jesus committed an error against Fresno State when he got caught between fielding a punt and letting it bounce; instead it caromed off his leg, Fresno recovered and game turned.

That turnover opened the floodgates as UNLV proceeded to give away the ball four times. Odom acknowledged his team cannot survive that many miscues, but he said he’s not worried about it becoming a trend.

He still trusts De Jesus, who has been brilliant as a return man this year, to make the right play every time.

“Red-zone punt, for the returner that’s a difficult spot,” Odom said. “He’s got to make a split-second decision: Do we make it, [or] do we let it bounce and then we’re pinned inside the 10-yard line? Jacob has made a million great decisions since he’s been here. That was a bad decision. He’ll learn from it.”

Don’t be shocked if De Jesus rips off a long return at some point on Saturday and the special teams units resume their field-flipping ways.

Defend deep

UNLV is running thin in the secondary, with star cornerback Jerrae Williams having missed the last four games due to a foot injury, and now the team will likely be without senior Johnathan Baldwin for a while, too.

Baldwin suffered a leg injury against New Mexico and did not return, and Odom did not sound optimistic about a speedy recovery when he spoke to the media on Monday. The team still has big-play capability in senior Jaxen Turner (four interceptions) and junior Cameron Oliver (two interceptions), but how long can the patchwork group hold up?

Fortunately, throwing the ball is not New Mexico’s forte. The Lobos average 7.2 yards per attempt through the air and 222.0 passing yards per game, both of which rank them in the middle of the pack nationally. UNLV should have a good matchup there, even with the injuries piling up.

What: UNLV (6-2, 3-1 MWC) at New Mexico (3-5, 1-3 MWC)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

TV: Mountain West Network, Silver State Entertainment

Radio: 1100AM, 100.9FM

Line: UNLV -10.5

UNLV leaders

Passing

Jayden Maiava: 64.2%, 1,579 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs

Rushing

Donavyn Lester: 377 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 7 TDs

Receiving

Ricky White: 47 receptions, 719 yards, 4 TDs

Defense

Jackson Woodard: 69 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT

New Mexico leaders

Passing

Dylan Hopkins: 58.1%, 1,638 yards, 11 TDs, 7 INTs

Rushing

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: 589 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 12 TDs

Receiving

Jeremiah Hixon: 26 receptions, 336 yards, 5 TDs

Defense

Zach Morris: 27 tackles, 1 INT, 7 PDs

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.